Half pallet sled

ABSTRACT

A pallet sled includes a sled base having wheels. A fork tine assembly extends from the sled base and includes a pair of fork tines. At least one of the pair of fork tines is configured to be secured to a base of a hand cart, such as with a slot or recess. The hand cart can be carried by the fork tine while the fork tines are supporting a pallet loaded with goods thereon.

BACKGROUND

The development of direct store delivery (DSD) systems increases delivery efficiencies across several industries including Beverage and Food Service by reducing the amount of time and labor a driver needs to deliver product (raw goods, finished goods, etc.) to the restaurant or store.

The DSD system allows the driver to transport a loaded pallet directly from the trailer to inside the store without having to down stack product onto a hand truck and making multiple trips back and forth. The product can then be merchandised on the shelf or in the cooler or stored in the back room directly on the pallet. The DSD systems have optimized equipment (electric lift and/or sled) with a small footprint and maneuverability to fit in tight aisles, hallways, and coolers to maximize efficiency.

In some cases as found in Food Service industry, the store clerk/owner or driver may prefer not to use the equipment in the store due to the number of people and how crowded the store may be. The driver may bring a secondary piece of equipment such as a hand truck with the lift or sled and pallet load to the store front, then down stack the product onto the hand truck to deliver in the store. While this is not the most efficient delivery method, the driver will need to comply with the store's request to not bring the larger equipment inside.

SUMMARY

A delivery system as described herein allows the delivery driver to transport the secondary equipment (i.e. hand truck) with the primary piece of equipment (i.e. electric lift or sled) by integrating receivers into the primary equipment's fork structure. The design allows the secondary equipment to be stored in several configurations depending on delivery conditions. The driver does not have to carry/drag/roll the secondary piece of equipment. The driver can bring all necessary equipment with the pallet load at once without making multiple trips back to the trailer. Several example embodiments are described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pallet sled according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the pallet sled of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a hand cart on the front of the tines of the pallet sled of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows the hand cart and pallet sled of FIG. 3 with the hand cart in a side position.

FIG. 5 shows a pallet received on the pallet sled and hand cart of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the tines of a pallet sled according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is another front perspective view of the tines of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 shows the hand cart secured to the front of the tines of the pallet sled of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the hand cart and pallet sled of FIG. 8, with goods stacked on the pallet received on the pallet sled.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pallet sled according to a third embodiment with the hand cart received in one of the tines.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pallet sled according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the pallet sled of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows the hand cart in place on the front of the tines of the pallet sled of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows the pallet with goods supported on the pallet sled and hand cart of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the front of the pallet sled, pallet, goods and hand cart of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the hand cart and pallet sled of FIG. 13 with the hand cart in a side position.

FIG. 17 shows the hand cart and pallet sled of FIG. 16 with the pallet and goods stacked thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a pallet lift or sled 10 a including a lift assembly 12 and a fork tine assembly 14 a according to a first embodiment. The lift assembly 12 includes a base 16 with upright handles 18. Other handle arrangements could also be used, but the upright handles 18 shown reduce the footprint of the lift assembly 12 and increase the maneuverability of the sled 10 a in tight spaces. An actuator 20 on one of the handles 18 permits the operator to activate the lift assembly 12. Wheels 22 are mounted below the base 16. The lift assembly 12 includes an electric or hydraulic lift mechanism for raising the fork tine assembly 14 a.

The fork tine assembly 14 a includes a support structure 24 a connecting the lift assembly 12 to the fork tines 28 a. The tines 28 a are supported by pivoting wheels 30 a (as is known). In this embodiment, there are a pair of spaced-apart spacers 32 a protruding upward from the uppermost surface of each tine 28 a. A central recessed area 34 a is defined between each pair of spacers 32 a on each tine 28 a. A front recessed area 36 a is defined in front of each pair of spacers 32 a on each tine 28 a.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sled 10 a. As shown, the spacers 32 a project upward higher than an uppermost surface of the tines 28 a to define the central recessed area 34 a and the front recessed area 36 a.

As shown in FIG. 3, a hand cart 50 has a frame 52, planar base 54 and wheels 56. The base 54 can be received on the front recessed areas 36 a formed at the fronts of the tines 28 a, forward of the front spacers 32 a on each tine 28 a. The base 54 has a thickness that is approximately the same or slightly less than the height of the spacers 32 a.

Referring to FIG. 4, the base 54 of the hand cart 50 can also be received in either of the central recessed areas 34 a, between the spacers 32 a. The hand cart 50 can be placed in either position while a pallet is supported on the tines 28 a.

FIG. 5 shows a pallet 100 having a deck 112 and supports 114. Goods 102 are stacked on the deck 112. The pallet 100 is received on the tines 28 a, which in the disclosed embodiments are received between the columns 114. As shown, the base 54 of the hand cart 50 is slid between the deck 112 of the pallet 100 and the front recessed areas 34 a of the tines 28 a. The base 54 can be slid between the deck 112 and the tines 28 a after the loaded pallet 100 is placed over the tines 28 a before the tines 28 a are lifted (it may be possible after the tines 28 a are lifted, depending on the pallet 100 and the height of the spacers 32 a). The base 54 has a thickness that is approximately the same or slightly less than the height of the spacers 32 a. The goods 102 are shown as a monolith, but would in practice be a plurality of smaller objects, such as smaller containers (boxes, crates, etc), several of which could be transported on the cart 50 at once. In use, the driver can transport the pallet 100, the goods 102 and the cart 50 from the delivery truck to the store front (or other intermediate location). There, the driver can downstack some of the goods 102 from the pallet 100 and sled 10 a to the cart 50. The driver then uses the cart 50 to bring the goods 102 to the desired location (e.g. shelves, refrigerator unit, etc).

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a sled 10 b according to another embodiment, with an alternate fork tine assembly 14 b. The fork tines 28 b each include a horizontal slot forward 38 b at the front end thereof. The forward slots 38 b are aligned with one another. In the embodiment shown, the forward slots 38 b are open forward and inward (toward one another) and are closed to the exterior.

As shown in FIG. 8, the base 54 of the hand cart 50 can be received in the forward slots 38 b of the tines 28 b. Preferably the forward slots 38 b are slightly higher than the thickness of the base 54, so that the hand cart 50 can be received and retained in position.

Referring to FIG. 9, the pallet 100 and goods 102 can be stacked on the upper surfaces of the tines 28 b. Of course, this would typically occur before the base 54 of the cart 50 is received in the forward slots 38 b at the forward ends of the tines 28 b.

FIG. 10 shows a sled 10 c according to a third embodiment, with another alternate tine assembly 14 c. The fork tines 28 c each include a horizontal central slot 40 c extending through a central area of the tine 28 c (such as a mid-point lengthwise). The base 54 of the cart 50 can be inserted through one of the central slots 40 c (again typically after a loaded pallet 100 (not shown) is placed on the tines 28 c).

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a sled 10 d according to a fourth embodiment with another alternate tine assembly 14 d. The fork tines 28 d each include a raised rear area 33 d and a forward spacer 32 d, defining a central recessed area 34 d therebetween. A forward recessed area 36 d is defined forward of each spacer 32 d. The base 54 can be received on the forward recessed area 36 d (FIGS. 13-15) or in the central recessed area 34 d (FIGS. 16-17).

It should also be noted that two or more of the above features from the above embodiments could be provided on a single set of fork tines. For example, the spacers 32 a, the forward slots 38 b and the central slots 40 c could all be provided on the same set of fork tines for more options for carrying the cart 50.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes and jurisprudence, exemplary configurations described above are considered to represent a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A pallet sled comprising: a sled base having wheels; and a fork tine assembly extending from the sled base, the fork tine assembly including a pair of fork tines, at least one of the pair of fork tines configured to be secured to a base of a hand cart.
 2. The pallet sled of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the pair of fork tines includes an uppermost surface from which at least one spacer projects upward, thereby defining a recess into which the base of the hand cart can be received.
 3. The pallet sled of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the pair of fork tines is configured to receive the base of the hand cart below a pallet lifted by the pallet sled.
 4. The pallet sled of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the pair of fork tines includes a slot formed therein, the slot configured to receive the base of the hand cart.
 5. The pallet sled of claim 4 wherein the slot extends through the at least one of the pair of fork tines.
 6. The pallet sled of claim 5 in combination with the hand cart, wherein the base of the hand cart extends through the slot.
 7. The pallet sled of claim 4 wherein the slot is formed in a longitudinal end of the at least one of the pair of fork tines.
 8. The pallet sled of claim 6 in combination with the hand cart, wherein the base of the hand cart is received in the slot.
 9. The pallet sled of claim 1 in combination with the hand cart, wherein the base of the hand cart is secured to the at least one of the pair of fork tines.
 10. The pallet sled and hand cart of claim 9 further in combination with a pallet supported on the fork tines above the base of the hand cart.
 11. The pallet sled of claim 1 wherein the at least one of the pair of fork tines includes an uppermost surface having a recess formed therein, wherein the recess is configured to receive the base of the hand cart.
 12. A pallet sled comprising: a sled base having wheels; and a fork tine assembly extending from the sled base, the fork tine assembly including first and second fork tines extending from the sled base to free ends supported by wheels, wherein the first fork tine is configured to be secured to a hand cart.
 13. The pallet sled of claim 12 wherein the first fork tine is configured to be secured to the hand cart while a pallet is supported on the first and second tines.
 14. The pallet sled of claim 12 wherein the first fork tine includes an upper support surface having at least one recess formed therein, wherein the at least one recess has a width sufficient to receive the base of the hand cart.
 15. The pallet sled of claim 12 wherein the first fork tine and the second fork tine each include at least one recess for receiving the base of a hand cart.
 16. The pallet sled of claim 15 in combination with a pallet and the hand cart, wherein the pallet is supported on the first fork tine and the second fork tine and wherein the base of the hand cart is in at least one of the recesses below the pallet.
 17. The pallet sled, pallet and hand cart of claim 16 wherein the base of the hand cart is received in the recesses of the first fork tine and the second fork tine. 